Oars, lengths

[Lakesailor]

I was rowing out to the boat yesterday and wondered why it seems to be accepted practice to have oars too long so that the handles bash each other.
It's often puzzled me. Anyone know?

 

[Twister_Ken]

That's a very good question.

Doesn't apply to flubbers, though, where the convention seems to be that oars should be self collapsing on every third stroke, and that bendy rowlocks are better.

 

[Helina]

It is very, extremely technical. Maybe even too technical. The longer the more power ! But you need to be technical to use them not simultaneously but one follows the other. When you learn it, it's pure magig ! Even better than pot !

 

[Bajansailor]

Ace photo! How did you do it? Re all those sploshes from previous oar strokes - is it done with some special setting on the camera?

Re oars too long, would it be possible to move the collar on each 1/2" further inboard?
If they are a few inchees too long, you can row with one fist above the other, rather than side by side - you get more leverage from the longer oar, although it takes a bit of getting used to.

Ooops, sorry, just noticed that it is a Squizzle photo, and not a Lakey photo (unless you are Squizzle in disguise?).
I didnt see the name at the bototm before - I was so fascinated by those sploshes!
And that is a very fine little pulling boat - very clean and simple - would you happen to have any other photos of it lurking?

(I see that the rower very sensibly has a bottle of amber nectar on the aft thwart for emergencies /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

 

[cliffdale]

3 wheatabix this morning?

Excellent photo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[gandy]

So that your hands aren't too far apart at the extremes of the stroke?

A serious rower once referred to "crossing" hands, which would imply longer still than your photo. She said that on her boat the rowlocks (whatever their proper name) are offset in some way to facilitate this.

 

[Lakesailor]

I did "find" the pic. Although it's not too disimilar to my usual journey out to the mooring !! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Some boats if your oars are in deep enough the ends pass one another. Some boats they bash each other anyway.

Didn't know if there was a rule of (crushed) thumb.

 

[snowleopard]

In racing sculls, the overlap is 3-4" and the outriggers are set so that the blades are at the same depth when one hand is directly above the other. I seem to recall that in my day you sculled 'right over left' and if you got it wrong the boat went along with a list to port.

 

[aitchw]

Traditionally the oars would overlap by about two inches IIRC and one hand goes over the top of the other as they pass. If you row with oars that are too short inboard you find the natural tendency is for the oars to be pulled inwards towards each other and you have to make a concious effort to force them out so the button is up against the rowlock. V uncomfortable and distracting.

 

[Bergman]

Oars are right length

Boat is too narrow.

 

[Woodlouse]

Rower has no feet.

 

[sarabande]

Row faster, Lakey, they're shooting at you !